The history of the star: Merak

Beta (β) Ursa
Major, Merak, is a greenish white star in the loin or flank
of the Great Bear.

Merak, or Mirak, is from Al Marakk,
the Loin (of the Bear); but English writer on globes John Chilmead (circa 1639)
said Mirae, and the 16th century French scholar Scaliger,
Mizar. It may have been known by the Greeks as Helike,
one of their names for the whole constellation of
Ursa Major.

The Chinese called it Tien Seuen, an Armillary Sphere,
and the Hindus, Pulaha (born from Brahma's navel), one of the seven
Rishis or Sages [identifying Kratu with the star α Dubhe;
Pulaha with β Merak; Pulastya with γ Phecda;
Atri with δ Megrez; Angiras ε Alioth;
Vasishtha with ζ Mizar; Bhrigu with η
Alkaid. [2]
[2]]

Close to it, on the west, lies the Owl Nebula,
N.G.C. (New Galaxy Catalog) 3587, 97 M., discovered by Mechain in 1781.

Alpha (Dubhe) and beta (this
star Merak) were the Keepers, or the Pointers,
at the front of the "Dipper Bowl" in Ursa Major; a line extending through these
two will direct the observer to Polaris, the North Star.

It is one of the "The Plough", also called "the Big Dipper"
stars, an asterism in the back of the Bear, outlined by the
stars; Merak (this star beta), Dubhe (alpha),
Phecda (gamma) and Megrez (delta)
on the body of the Bear, along with the three star of the tail; epsilon (Alioth), zeta
(Mizar), and eta (Alkaid).
The asterism was also seen as a Dipper or Ladle with the three stars in the tail
forming the handle. In early Arabic astronomy the four plough stars on the body
of the bear constituted the coffin or bier surrounded by mourners (the three
stars in the tail)
of Al Na'ash, who was murdered by Al Jadi, the pole-star (Polaris),
and this constellation was seen as a funeral procession, attributing this title
to the slow and solemn motion of the figure around the pole. The Big Dipper has
been seen by various cultures as a plough, an ox cart, a wagon, it was known as
Charlie's Wain in northern Europe. To the Hindus the four stars of the plough
and the three stars in the tail was Sapta Rishi "The seven Wise Men." These
seven stars (septentriones, from the phrase septem triones,
meaning "seven plough oxen") are the origin of the Latin word septentriones
meaning "north".

The astrological influences of the constellation Ursa Major

Legend: Callisto, daughter
of Lycaon, king of Arcadia, of whom Jupiter was enamored, became a follower of Diana
on account of her love of hunting. Jupiter sought Callisto by assuming the form
of Diana, and Juno (Jupiter's wife) who discovered the intrigue turned Callisto
into a bear. Angry that the bear was placed in heaven, Juno requested her brother
Neptune never to let those stars set within his kingdom, and for this reason they
are always above the horizon in Europe [never disappear below the horizon, it is
always visible in the night sky, all night, every night, throughout the year]. To
account for the length of the bear's tail [because in reality bears don't have tails],
it is said that Jupiter, fearing her teeth, lifted her by the tail, which became
stretched because of her weight and the distance from earth to heaven. [Robson*,
p.65.]

Influences: According to Ptolemy,
Ursa Major is like
Mars. It is said to give a quiet, prudent, suspicious, mistrustful, self-controlled,
patient nature, but an uneasy spirit and great anger and revengefulness when roused.
By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Zain and the 7th
Tarot Trump "The Chariot." [Robson*, p.65.]

The astrological influences of the constellation
Ursa Major given by
Manilius:

"Now when, after completing a revolution round the pole,
the Bear (Ursa Major)
with muzzle foremost replaces her unceasing steps in her former tracks, never immersed
in Ocean but ever turning in a circle, to those born at such a time wild creatures
will show no hostile face, and in their dealings with animals these men will find
them submissive to their rule. Such a one will be able to control huge lions with
a gesture, to fondle wolves, and to play with captive panthers; so far from shunning
the powerful bears that are the kin of the constellation, he will train them to
human accomplishments and feats foreign to their nature; he will seat himself on
the elephant's back and with a goad will direct the movements of a beast which disgraces
its massive weight by yielding to tiny jabs; he will dispel the fury of the tiger,
training it to become a peaceful animal, whilst all the other beasts which molest
the earth with their savageness he will join in friendship to himself; keen-scented
whelps he will train..." [here the translator notes that eight pages have been lost]
[Astronomica,
Manilius, 1st century AD, book 5, p.357, 359]

"Now where heaven reaches its culmination in the shining
Bears, which from the summit of the sky look down on all the stars and know no setting
and, shifting their opposed stations about the same high point, set sky and stars
in rotation, from there an insubstantial axis runs down through the wintry air and
controls the universe, keeping it pivoted at opposite poles: it forms the middle
about which the starry sphere revolves and wheels its heavenly flight, but is itself
without motion and, drawn straight through the empty spaces of the great sky to
the two Bears and through the very globe of the Earth, stands fixed, since the entire
atmosphere ever revolves in a circle, and every part of the whole rotates to the
place from which it once began, that which is in the middle, about which all moves,
so insubstantial that it cannot turn round upon itself or even submit to motion
or spin in circular fashion, this men have called the axis, since, motionless itself,
it yet sees everything spinning about it. The top of the axis is occupied by constellations
well known to hapless mariners, guiding them over the measureless deep in their
search for gain. Helice (Ursa
Major), the greater, describes the greater arc; it is marked by seven stars
which vie with each other under its guidance the ships of Greece set sail to cross
the seas. Cynosura [Ursa
Minor] is small and wheels round in a narrow circle, less in brightness as it
is in size, but in the judgment of the Tyrians it excels the larger bear. Carthaginians
count it the surer-guide when at sea they make for unseen shores. They are not set
face to face: each with its muzzle points at the other's tail and follows one that
follows it. Sprawling between them and embracing each the Dragon separates and surrounds
them with its glowing stars lest they ever meet or leave their stations." [Astronomica,
Manilius, 1st century AD, book 1, p.27, 29].

The astrological influences of the star Merak

Merak has a Mars nature and is of importance in a natal
chart, if the sign Leo is tenanted and other configurations give a clue to love
of command and domination. This star is credited with increasing the power to get
on in life and this is especially so if in conjunction with the Sun, Mars or Pluto.
[Fixed
Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1928, p.49.]